Missile with firing cartridge



Jan. 28, 1969 4 c. w. LAMBERT MISSILE WITH FIRING CARTRIDGE Filed March20, 1968 Y f L United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA rocket propelled missile having a tapered pointed head containingexplosive or propellant is disclosed. Spinal vanes are disposed alongthe body of the missile to impart a rotary motion. A short cartridgecase is secured to the missile to ignite the propellant.

The invention relates to solid fuel missiles. The missile has a slimtapered hollow head with a sharp point. The hollow head is connected toa hollow shank to which is secured a firing cartridge which is detonatedby the action of a hammer and firing pin.

The shank or shaft of the missile is slightly smaller in exteriordiameter than the head and has thin exterior spiral vanes which impart arotative motion to the missile, in the air or Water, from the forwardmotion of the missile. Forward motion is derived from the rapidcombustion of the column of fuel in the missile shank.

The hollow missile head may be filled with the same propelling fuel asthe shank or the head may contain a high explosive. This would be thecase in defensive use underwater against sharks and other largemarauders.

The beveled rear section of the missile is enlarged to the same diameteras the head and spiral vanes, all of which slides smoothly through adirecting missile tube when fired.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a View of the complete missile from the sharppointed head to the flange of the short cartridge case secured to therear end.

The missile is placed in the missile holder by sliding it in from therear. The cartridge fits into the firing chamber of the missile holder.The firing chamber is larger in diameter than the missile guide tube.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal cross sections of the rear end and itsfitted cartridge and of a large portion of the pointed missile head.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross section along 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross section along 6-6 of FIG. 3.

In all figures of the drawing, the same parts are numbered alike.

1 is the missile head with a long tapered nose 2 which ends in a sharppoint.

3 is the missile shank secured to which are spiral vanes 4.

5 is the short cartridge case with edge 6 crimped tightly around therear section 16 of the missile.

7 is the interior shoulder of the cartridge case against which the rearend of the missile is tightly held by the crimp 6.

8 is the detonator which is exploded by the gun firing pin.

9 is the sealing ring which is tightly compressed when the missile rearsection 16 is forced against the shoulder 7 and held there by crimp 6.

At 10 and 11, the detonator and missile rear end are sealed againstmoisture 'by sheets of flammable plastic. Both flammable sheets arefired by the detonator blast which is augmented by a small amount ofpowder 12.

The flare up is hastened and sustained by the air in the space between10 and 11. The solid fuel 13 in the missile is ignited almost instantly.Since considerable pressure is required to straighten out the crimp 6and release the missile, it leaves the missile tube at high speed and iseffective at short range.

For underwater use, the column of solid fuel is designed to burn down tothe explosive head in about three seconds, which is the range of limitedvisibility.

For air use, a longer missile with longer range 'would probably be moreuseful.

I claim:

1. A solid fuel missile comprising, a hollow conical sharp pointed head;a hollow shank secured to said head; spiral vanes secured to said shank;a hollow rear section having a frusto-conical forward end secured tosaid shank; a cartridge case secured by crimping to said rear section; ashoulder within said cartridge case; said rear section contacting saidshoulder; a sealing ring within said cartridge case; said ringcompressed between said rear section of said missile and the base ofsaid cartridge case; a column of solid fuel extending from the rear ofsaid rear section through said shank into said head; and a detonatorwithin the base of said cartridge.

2. A missile, as claimed in claim 1, and a sheet of flammable plasticcovering said detonator; a similar flammable plastic sheet covering therear end of said rear section; and a small portion of powder in thespace between said detonator and said fuel column and surrounded by saidsealing ring.

3. A missile, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head contains a chargeof high explosive, and said column of solid fuel is fast burning and isconsumed up to the charge of high explosive in a few seconds.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,438,779 12/1922 Olin 102-452,436,239 8/1947 Renner 102-38 2,941,469 6/1960 Barnhart 10249.73,323,457 6/1967 Biehl et a1. 10248 3,326,128 6/1967 Choate 102-497VERLIN R. PENDEGRASS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

